They took time to soak up the panoramic views surrounding the 17th century monastery, formally known as Paro Taktsang, during a three-hour walk.

Situated about 10,000ft (3,000m) above sea level and on a cliff face, the monastery is considered to be one of the holiest for the Bhutanese people.

our Bhutan

We have a treat today, first-hand perspective from a WKW friend who knows exactly how challenging it can be. Brooke, a WKW friend, made the trek with her husband in April of 2014. Brooke described what the terrain is like and shared the 2 photos directly below her quotes.

It’s an imposing feat from the bottom. The trail itself is dusty and dry, with short flat stretches between hikes up rocky, steep ledges to ascend the mountain.

Our guides told us stories of men who complete the hike every day, and experts who climb in less than an hour. All Bhutanese men make the trek in their Gho (traditional Bhutanese dress), and combined with the gentle nature of the Bhutanese, it makes for a very beautiful, dignified and spiritual experience for such rough terrain and such a long journey.

Kate and William approach the halfway point of the climb in this photo from Victoria Murphy of The Mirror.

Horses were kept at the ready in case the royals became tired, but they did not use them.

Robin Nunn/Nunn Syndication/Polaris

Brooke said that “But after tea and biscuits at the halfway cafe, and with the view of the monastery getting closer, the second half is easier than the first.”

Victoria Murphy, The Mirror @QueenVicMirror

William is not the first family member to start the climb; in 1998 Prince Charles went halfway up the mountain. Many readers have probably seen the photos of Charles working on a watercolor at the halfway point. If I’m not mistaken the Prince encountered issues with vertigo, making an effort at the full trip unwise.

Her husband quickly broke into a sweat, but the Duchess of Cambridge stayed fresh as a daisy as she tackled a lung-busting trek to a Himalayan monastery.

Despite choosing to wear a leather jerkin and calf-length leather boots for the arduous, rocky climb, the Duchess looked as though she had been for nothing more than a stroll in the garden as she reached the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, which clings to a cliff 10,000ft up.

From the final lookout across the valley to the monastery, there are long strings of flags seemingly impossibly strung up across the valley and high up from the mountains. Our guide told us there were some very skilled archers at work with getting these into place.

Our thanks to Brooke for sharing a sense of what Kate and William experienced through her own trek to the monastery.

Kate wore her Really Wild Clothing olive green Nubuck Waistcoat. The piece is olive green leather with a three-button front, deep pockets and an adjustable waist. Although shown on the website as ‘sold out,’ the piece can be special ordered. The waistcoat is £495, roughly $700.

Really Wild

We have not identified Kate’s jeans but hope to work on that after we get this post up.

The Duchess elected to do the hike in her Penelope Chilvers boots. This choice prompted a little online chatter, with some thinking the boots would be too stiff, without enough ‘give’ (that’s my word). But they look fairly supple and seem to have worked well for Kate. MOre from Emma Spedding’s story in The Telegraph:

It’s perhaps surprising given the difficult climb and the heat, that the Duchess chose to wear knee-high boots rather than hiking shoes such as the £106 Hillmaster boots she wore when she visited Borneo’s jungle, but Chilvers says that her boots are designed for adventures.

The boots are shown as being available in only two sizes on the Penelope Chilvers website, but this is a staple product for the company and I imagine they will be restocked.

A whimsical side note, Simon Perry of People magazine mentioned that William and Kate made a few purchases at a trinket shop after the hike was completed. He Instagramed a picture of a pair of earrings Kate bought, like those shown below in dark blue for about $7; if we ever see her wearing them we’ll know their origins. (Although we’ve no idea if they are a gift or if she plans to wear them.)

Simon Perry (@SperryPeopleMag)

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Back in Thimphu this evening Kate and William hosted a reception celebrating Britain’s relationship with Bhutan, and the Duchess engaged in more sartorial diplomacy.

I loved absolutely everything about her hiking outfit—she looked gorgeous but it was also practical to wear the layers which could be taken off if necessary. I noted that she did take off the vest as it got warmer. She has had the boots for a very long time and I suspect that she has broken them in to the point that they are super comfortable for her. She is clearly in excellent physical shape and I suspect that is why she didn’t sweat so much. I think the hiking ensemble was perfection!

As for the Beulah evening gown. I think it is lovely that she wore something with poppies on it as a nod to her host country but I am so over those voluminous sleeves on the Beulah gowns. I think they are aging and unflattering on everyone. The sleeves made the entire thing look matronly IMO. I think her hair and makeup and styling are great—but would love to rework those sleeves.

I love Beaulah clothes & this dress doesn’t disappoint it’s quite a popular print for British clothes. From the photos I don’t know if Kate’s dress is altered but the model photo shows a lining. Can’t see why the split is there anyway, totally unnecessary.
I skimmed thru this post quickly late last night with my daughter & we argued about how the Bunting got across the valley. My daughter suggested it was thrown, I scoffed, saying it was too far & that obviously a helicopter with gun was used; it wasn’t until I actually read it today that I realised archers got the flags there!!! My daughter is on a bus to London where my subsequent text had her & her friends in high amusement at my ignorance.
I don’t think Kate has had Botox. Lots of walkers look fresh after a hike, it depends how fit/unfit they are & therefore how much effort it is.She wore a loose, natural fibre WHITE shirt but she obviously exercises a lot. Her arms are very muscular & photos show her wrists & hands with the telltale large distended veins; she also plays tennis, not to mention deer-stalking etc over rough terrain (which is never publicised in Britain).
As for the monastery, just looking at the pictures makes me feel ill. It’s obvious the builders didn’t want to be reached so I’m wondering about a violent past? Thank goodness for Google…

Love the hiking outfit. Perfect matching of scarf, shirt, vest, pants (which are the right fit) and boots both in colours and fabric. Love the cut of that vest – glad to hear it can be ordered. No problem with the broken in boots – this is a hike, not a climb per se. And there was the possibility of taking horses part of the way. I wondered if the boots might be a bit warm after climbing for a while – Kate removed the vest near the top, presumably to cool off. She seems to look at her best in these casual, active outdoor events.

The poppy dress. Love the red (the pattern not so much although recognize its signficance) and the v neck (at last!!). The bodice is very well cut and flattering for Kate. And then, oh dear, those sleeves. Long sleeves gathered into a little band at the wrist are so ordinary and old fashioned. Take at least half, and preferably all of them, off! Its just too much fabric and makes it look like she is wearing a dressing rather than an evening gown.

Her hair is the best I’ve seen on the trip. The makeup is better too, or maybe its just a glow from all that exercise and fresh mountain air. Or maybe the trip is almost over and she is finally able to start relaxing?

I guess I should jump out of the WKW lurker closet now…! Thanks to Susan for featuring my words and images along with this story! I can’t believe it was 2 years ago today.
It is still quite chilly in Bhutan at this time of year, I was in track pants and a 3/4 sleeve top. I was stunned to see Kate in tall leather boots and a leather vest… and with her hair down – my hair wouldn’t look like that after 4 hours of sitting still, let alone that hike.
I love the Beulah dress for the evening, I was wondering when/what Kate was going to pull from the Beulah closet and the combination of the poppies and the red is both very flattering on her and a great fit for Bhutan.

I loved both of her outfits today. I love that she layered for hiking. I lived in Colorado for some time and while it could be in the 80s in the lower elevations, it would be quite chilly when you got to the mountains. It would get chillier the higher you went.

As a note to the boots she was wearing, she’s owned those for quite some time. Leather (especially leather used for tall boots) will break down and become more supple and easier to wear the more you wear them. Had they been new, I would have cringed. There’s a breaking in period for tall leather shoes that includes bruises at the back on your knees where the leather ends, on the outside of your knees and by the ankles; I hate breaking in leather boots. (Equestrian problems!) These would be more comfortable for her because they are broken in like second skin and have a great amount of traction. If she had to mount a horse, these boots are perfect for horseback riding. They won’t slip like a trainer might.

Her poppy dress is quite beautiful. I love that she kept the deep deep vee of the dress. Normally she has that altered. It’s beautiful.

You said exactly what I was going to! As a rider, tall boots are helpful, especially on uneven terrain. The zipper is in back, not on the inside of the leg, and although the soles aren’t especially great for stirrups, they’re still a better alternative than regular hiking boots, had she had to mount up. And given the age of the boots and how often she’s likely to have worn them, I’m pretty sure these boots would have been extremely comfortable. My own cowgirl boots are more comfortable than sneakers after all these years! And my tall riding boots? Ahhhhhh……..

I’ve been doing English riding for a year for therapy and the minute I got real equestrian tall boots, my lower legs stopped yelling at me. Tall boots are life savers. The four month breaking in period was horrible. Bruises everywhere; now I just want to wear those things everywhere. So comfy.

Trainers are so uncomfortable in stirrups; I have no idea how some of the clients at my NFP wear them and are comfortable as they are wide shoes for regular fillis stirrups seen on some of the horses.

One thing I am still in awe of is the beautiful Bhutanese saddles. Holy moly, are those gorgeous.

You can tell that the boots are so nicely worn in, I’m sure they were just fine to hike in. In the first picture, they bend so easily at the ankle. In general I thought that he looks today were absolutely perfect. I’m envious of her fitness!

I did notice that she put on a scarf I’m not familiar with in the interview after the hike. Has she worn that before?

Yes, it’s a Flora scarf. Have a look at the post about the visit to the Wildlife Sanctuary where she wore Zara Jeans. She wears the scarf to get out of her jeep. Details follow in that post. Hope this helps 🙂

Haha, you know you need more sleep when… :). Reading back on it, I remember it now because it was made in Kashmir. Perhaps the large reaction to the jeans made me forget. :). Thank you kindly for the direction.

I really liked both outfits…on her. The sleeves on the dress would look ridiculous on me but she looked really great in it. Same goes for her hiking outfit. I’d look like a complete idiot in it but she pulled it off.

Just wanted to say I love this blog! I hope you will do some polls of this tour, and I wanted to make a request for an earrings poll. 🙂 I have been fascinated by the varied earrings the Duchess has worn on this tour. All of them perfectly matched with the occasion! Would be great to see them all lined up and pick our favorite! Thank you for all the hard work!

As for the red poppy dress, as beautiful as it is (and perfect for the occasion), I think she’s overdoing this style a bit. Is it just me, or does she seem to gravitate towards gowns with long, sheer sleeves and v-necks?

Many thanks to Brooke for the narrative and photos! And to Susan for superb coverage of this tour. I suffer from altitude sickness, so I believe Bhutan is a place I will never visit, but I feel lucky as an armchair traveler to enjoy this blog from the comfort of said armchair! The Duchess’ hiking outfit – LOVE. Especially the vest. Her dress is “nice”…… not my favorite, but she looks so pretty who cares? I think someone else commented on another day that the Duchess may be a boho girl at heart, and I’m definitely getting that sense, too. She seems comfortable in her clothes on this tour, most especially the relaxed, twirly printed dresses accessorized with dangly earrings. I would love to see these clothes on her back in London or Norfolk on a casual shopping outing paired with buffalo sandals and a big slouchy bag. If anyone can pull it off, she sure can!!!!!!

Thank you again Brooke and Susan for the terrific coverage of Bhutan. I’ve loved every moment!!!!!

I have always loved the look of a plain white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and tucked into jeans or khakis — simple, but chic and sexy, too. I used to dress that way in college all the time. In fact, the British novelist Faye Weldon once put a character in a white shirt and jeans and wrote something to the effect that if you don’t have the money for great clothes, wearing a simple and cheap outfit that flattering on just about everyone is precisely the way to go.

So, the Duchess’s hiking outfit wins a blue ribbon from me. I think she looked fabulous. I was, like some other observers, apparently, taken aback by her choice of boots, since I would have expected her to wear a good pair of hiking boots, but if those worked for her, fine. They certainly looked good, even if they weren’t quite my style.

The waistcoat isn’t my style either, but I think it also worked, and I see that at one point, the Duchess was wearing that beige embroidered stole I so admire — and covet.

Alas, the Beulah dress really doesn’t appeal to me in terms of design — there’s just something REALLY offputtingly ’70s about so many of Beulah’s offerings — but I rather like the fabric. If I’m going to wear a print, it has to be either small and restrained or spectacularly dramatic. This poppy print pretty much qualifies as the latter and is also very suited to the occasion.

In other words, I wouldn’t buy that dress, but I’m giving serious thought to buying the scarf. Those earrings, though — I’m sort of hoping that this will be their last hurrah.

I’ll add only that I think the Duchess’s hair at the reception looked better than it otherwise has on this trip, in terms of “down” styles. It’s looked terrific in the updos, but it’s been a bit limp and generally problematic when worn down. I suspect that’s been a climate effect. As someone whose hair reacts with disconcerting and sometimes utterly exasperating independence to the weather, I am entirely sympathetic.

Swimming (which I believe she does) provides the kind of stamina that one needs for such a trek.

Susan – great job with all the postings.

The clothing choices that the Duchess has made for this trip have shown that she has a keen eye for what is appropriate for the occasion and at the same time showing respect for the traditions of the countries that she has visited.

Bravo to both William and Kate for making this trek, without going on horseback. Kate’s hiking outfit was stylish but also practical. She looked lovely in the red evening dress…elegant, confident with a nod to the national flower of Bhutan. Kate really does play her role in the Royal Family with grace.

I think someone needs to work on William’s wardrobe. He is sometimes dressed in casual clothing, as he was for the hike today. At times he wears a tuxedo; sometimes a uniform. The rest of the time he is in his trusty blue suit, with boring ties. I’m sure he has more than one suit, but it appears that he wears the same clothes day after day, tour after tour.

In the heat of India he could have worm a taupe, or beige coloured linen suit. For evening wear, if not in a tux, he could wear a black suit. He’d also look fine in a charcoal suit, one with a pin stripe, one with a tiny check…you get where I am going with this.

But whatever they are wearing they represent the UK and the Queen so very well. Her Majesty must be so proud of them both.

I like the dress, but I think her gold Jimmy Choo Dart heels would have been nice with it. The color of the dress is very bright and she is already wearing gold earrings. The outfit could have finished off with more gold.

I was surprised she didn’t wear her hiking shoes, but I’m sure she would not have worn the boots if they weren’t comfortable and well fitted. Besides, since we know she’d definitely wear skinny jeans no matter the footwear, I much prefer the boots!

She looked so effortlessly elegant, both in her hiking attire and in the evening. I don’t normally like the Beulah dresses because the voluminous sleeves are too seventies for my taste, but this dress is gorgeous.

Remember that Kate laid low for a few weeks before the tour, ostensibly to spend time with George and Charlotte. She also might have been training. You can do intervals on a treadmill and adjust the incline, so you build up stamina.

I find the choice of boots and leather vest bizarre. Keeping the press limited to the mid-way point makes me wonder if she wore other footwear while hiking and then changed for the photocall. (I also think an explanation for her not sweating is Botox, a celebrity secret to underarm stains).

I must admit — and I’m not sure this commentary will be welcomed on here — this has felt less like a tour and more like a fashion show for Kate (who has spent more than $30,000 on new clothes and accessories for this trip). I wish we could have heard her give a speech, do a solo engagement, or pen a local op-ed about the importance of removing the stigma around mental health. Sigh.

Wow, how many of us could make that hike and still look that good at the top?

I’m sure many were surprised to see Kate wearing a leather vest and boots, but at an altitude of 10,000 ft and temps in the 50s-60s, she was probably comfortable. I’ve loved those Chilvers boots ever since she was photographed in them during her university days. I probably wouldn’t wear them on a hike, but she looked incredibly chic in them.

I don’t like the Beulah gown, and find the sheer long sleeves quite frumpy looking.

Wow! Loooooooooooooooove the post! Thank you Susan for putting it together and thank you Brooke for sharing your experience. Bhutan has definitely become a must go place in my bucket list.
She looked splendid and fresh as a lettuce all the way, my respects!
As for the boots, I mentioned on twitter that I once hiked for4-5 hours on boots. With my classmates we climbed temples and walked all over the park, in heat and humidity, so I can see why Catherine decided to wear the boots.
The outfirt was perfect and the coverage was amazing! Hands down to the Royal Press.

And the dress is peeeeeeeeeeeeerfect for the setting, venue, context and place. I want it!
One uqestion, is it because of the photos or did she customized her dress so that the inner skirt was close instead of the slit?

The press needs to cut William a little slack. Remember they just arrived Bhutan, which is at 10,000 feet. Most people take at least a day or two of rest (which they certainly didn’t!) and acclimate before climbing. It’s really hard going when you first get up there.

I second this, my family goes hiking every year in the mountains at that altitude. Since I live at a lower altitude, the first few days are really difficult for hiking. I’m out of breath in less than a mile, even though my legs haven’t even warmed up yet. I do break into a sweat eventually though, how does Kate not sweat at all?

Not everyone sweats. i am part of a hiking group and different people and level of fitness and genetic have different results. Some ladies look like they have been through a washing machine and others crisp as a fresh daisy.

The fabric of the Beulah dress is lovely, but whenever I see a gown in that style I immediately want to tear the sleeves off. There’s just too much material for my tastes. However, it’s much nicer than the similar one she wore to the Women in Hedge Funds event back in 2011.

Bravo to the Duchess for selecting this stunning red gown for tonight’s reception. With her height and features, she wears large prints to advantage. I love this neckline on her as well. The poppy print and her public support of victims of sex trafficing make this choice all the more impressive.

I didn’t think it was possible to love this woman more! I love that she trekked to the top without breaking a sweat. While the native men do it quickly, supposedly the average time is 3 hours but William and Kate beat that handily. Love her outfit — amazing she could hike in those high, hot boots! And the poppy dress — despite the fact that Beulah never seems particularly fashion forward — was a lovely gesture and looked beautiful on her.

I would have needed the horses for that trek. One source showed her hair dresser and stylist making the climb as well. Did they not carry water with them? No hint of canteens anywhere.
Evening gown was lovely.

Kate looked so at home out walking. She was at her classic best in her old favourites, the leather gilet and boots, with plain linen shirt and neutral jeans. The walking jeans even looked a little looser than some she wears which was a welcome change.

I suppose an event as dull as meeting with Bhutan graduates of British studies might test the best stylist skills. I have an antipathy to Beulah almost as marked as the one I bear Temperley but find this time I have narrowly escaped a return to Boring Predictable Kate.

I find the overall effect of this Beulah style kinda droopy so toned down gathering of the bell sleeves and a nicely worked wrap-over front into a fixed waistband — minus messy ties — it looks better. The Oriental poppy print is a lovely touch for Bhutan and red seems to be the colour worn by many of the monks.

I’d give a lot for a sharp colour-blocked Ilinic sheath tomorrow to deliver us from the ethnic theme. Maybe Catherine Walker might creep into the frame as a tribute to Diana.

I’d do anything to see a mod Ilinic too! But even if not, with Kate’s budget, she could take those gorgeous Indian or Bhutanese fabrics and have them styled into a modern, sleek dress. It’d be a lovely medley.

I think Kate looked terrific for her hike. What a great casual outfit! She could have stepped right out of a photo shoot! What I don’t understand is how she managed it with out keeling over from heat exhaustion! I know she is very fit, but the outfit just looks quite warm and heavy for such an arduous trek. Heavy boots and a heavy, hot vest… I would definitely have been with the other women from her group, tshirts and trainers!

The red dress is very elegant, striking a nice blend of formal, but approachable. I just wish she had given it some punch with a pair of bold earrings or a statement necklace. Maybe something sourced locally….